Splurge vs. Frugal: The Cleaning Gadgets You Need

by Sharon Feiereisen

At the risk of sounding like a “princess,” which is what my boyfriend calls me (and not in a nice way…) when I talk about this topic, it’s almost impossible to find someone who not only cleans well, but who you can trust in your apartment when you’re not home. I found such a gem of a person over a year ago, but he went to visit family in India for over two months, leaving me scrambling with a messy apartment. The only reliable person I could find charged such an absurd amount that I decided it was high time I try out all the cleaning products and gadgets I’ve been hearing so much about. To start with, I should say that when I used a regular mop, I felt like my floor was dirtier than before I had begun the process. I needed something that made picking up the dirt – versus just swishing it around – easy. I’ve spent the last two months trying out pretty much anything that sounded promising as far as cleaning my apartment. Here are three AMAZING brands that will leave your home glistening, even if you’re a “princess” like me.

Swiffer
We’ve all heard about the Swiffer, and yes, it’s fantastic! Maybe I’ve been living under a rock, but I only knew it for dry sweeping. Turns out, the brand offers so much more. If you’re on a budget, it seriously doesn’t get any better than the Swiffer WetJet, which is basically a wet mop that works with the touch of a button. But there’s also the Sweep + Vac, which is amazing if you have a lot of dust and hair. Rechargeable and cordless, this particular sweeping system combines a vacuum with a sweeping cloth and works even on textured grout lines and crevices. Swiffer WetJet starter kit, $23.99, and Sweep + Vac starter kit, $54.95, on Swiffer.

iRobot
If you have a bit more budget to play with, go straight for the iRobot. Here, too, I didn’t realize that the brand has more than one model, but it has a bunch! The one that seems like the most “useful” is the Braava since it does both wet and dry cleaning. I have a lot of stuff in my apartment, and it still manages to find its way around quickly. The machine is super easy to set up and figure out, and it turns itself off so you can let it do its thing and leave your apartment. The amount of dirt, dust, hair, and just general grime it picks up is amazing (and gross…). I wouldn’t say it’s any more or less effective than the Swiffer if you’re looking to clean your entire space, but it’s definitely more convenient for those who are time-crunched. Note that the Braava comes with reusable wet and dry clothes, but you can use the same disposable ones that work for the Swiffer if you don’t want to clean your cloth each time. iRobot Braava, $199.99-$299.99, on iRobot.

Casabella
Casabella gives all your basics a glamorous makeover (seriously…look at these sponges!). What sets this brand apart, however, besides their designs, is that they sell affordable cleaning basics that are engineered to be wider and reach longer distances. They’re also very resilient, so while the products may be a few dollars more than your run-of-the-mill alternatives, they should last longer.

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